Page - 234 - in Cyborg Mind - What Brain–Computer and Mind–Cyberspace Interfaces Mean for Cyberneuroethics

234 • Cyborg Mind to affect an individual’s sense of making his or her decisions. Consequently, developments in understanding the human mind and how it can be con- trolled should constantly be monitored.21 Similarly, with new applications of direct neuronal interfaces, it is impor- tant to consider the concepts of responsibility and sense of realism in terms of what can be achieved. Of course, this is already true in the realm of clinical applications, but should also be present in the military and gaming indus- tries, since the risks may be considerable yet remain largely unknown.22 This is one of the reasons why a continued engagement in cyberneuroethics is crucial. Resistance to Such a Development The possibility that some resistance in society may develop in relation to a continued evolution towards full-blown enhancement technologies and going beyond what is presently seen as normal in humanity should also not be underestimated. Thus, criticism may arise, expressing apprehension that becoming more than human undermines the very concept of humanity, with unforeseen consequences.23 Similarly, concern may exist that humanity could eventually be affected by a sense of pride, or hubris, by what it can do, with- out examining all the possible risks and consequences. On the other hand, a more positive approach may be considered if Enlightenment ideas are accepted, suggesting that the human mind is a direct consequence of the brain and that any concept of humanity should be seen as existing in a constant state of flux. If human beings then decide to go beyond the present notion of humanity, this could be seen as something that should be welcomed as progress and a natural development.24 As Diderot indicated, one of the central themes of this debate is whether the human mind is unique to humanity and whether the concept of ‘being human’ has any moral relevance.25 Risks of Neuronal Interfaces Of course, examining the proportionality between the risks and advantages of neuronal interfaces, and their applications in creating connections between the human mind and cyberspace, may seem slightly premature. Indeed, it is only recently that such interfaces have been applied to human beings and it is still difficult to appraise all the possible risks and side-effects of the new tech- nologies against their perceived advantages. This means that many legitimate questions remain. This open access edition has been made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Not for resale.